Teapot and milk jug, part of a tea service c. 1809 - 1814

This elegant milk jug was created by Koninklijke Porseleinfabriek Dommer & Co. It is part of a wider tea service. The jug's refined decoration provides an insight into the aesthetic and social values of its time. Made in the Netherlands, it reflects the Dutch fascination with nature, seen in the delicate landscape scenes. The gold trim and elegant shape speak to a culture of refinement, where tea drinking was a ritual and a display of social status. The jug may seem like a simple object, but it carries cultural information. The tea service to which it belongs would likely have been used by wealthy families to imitate royal customs, connecting the rituals of tea with the performance of status. As art historians, we use objects like these to explore not only artistic skill but also the social norms of the past. By studying designs, materials, and the historical context, we gain insight into the values and tastes of the people who used them.